At the beginning of 2025, Odense Robotics, Innovation Center Denmark in Seoul, and the Danish Trade Council in Tokyo led a Danish delegation with five Danish robotics companies to South Korea and Japan, offering participating companies a deep dive into two of the world’s most advanced robotics markets. Among the participants were Meditek Danmark and Meili Robots, both of which returned with new insights, fresh inspiration, and strengthened networks.
Spanning two days in South Korea and two and a half days in Japan, the visit featured a tightly curated programme. Activities included visits to innovative robotics companies, research institutions and industry events, alongside targeted networking opportunities arranged in collaboration with local partners.
The aim was clear: gain insights into the Asian robotics ecosystem and explore opportunities for collaboration.
For Asim Ikram from Meditek Danmark, the visit marked a return to South Korea after a successful trip years earlier – this time with the addition of Japan.
“It was, as always, a very nice experience. The group was great, and the trip offered deep insights into the robotics industry in the region. I learned a lot. In particular, during our time in Korea, where we visited several companies with different approaches to the robotics business. It was interesting to see that the market gaps they face are quite similar to those we experience in Denmark. And it was valuable to learn how they are addressing those challenges.”
In Japan, participants visited the Cybernics Research Centre at the Tsukuba Medical Center, among other places, and explored solutions for people with limited mobility – technologies that were particularly interesting to Meditek Danmark and have since inspired new initiatives back home.
“We saw assistive technologies for people in wheelchairs – something that impressed all of us. We’re now looking into introducing similar solutions in Denmark,” said Asim Ikram.
Cultural insights and lasting connections
For Aldus von der Burg from Meili Robots, the trip was also a strategic opportunity to understand business culture in Asia.
“The visit was a great opportunity for us to understand how the business culture of the region is. That isn’t always clear from an outsider’s perspective.”
Beyond knowledge, the trip also opened doors to new collaborations.
“It really expanded our network. I’m still in touch with several people we met, and we’ve already reconnected at events like the Automation Expo in Chicago. It’s opened doors for both collaboration and knowledge sharing.”
A strong recommendation for industry peers
Both companies recommend others to participate in market visits if they want insight into new markets and the opportunity to build strong networks.
“Everything was well organized. Great group, valuable insights, and it led to further opportunities. I highly recommend it,” Asim Ikram says.
“I encourage companies to allocate budget for opportunities like this. The insights and networks are truly valuable. Trying to coordinate everything on your own with time zone differences is a challenge. And having local representatives made a big difference,” adds Aldus von der Burg.
The market visit was a result of the strong collaboration between Odense Robotics and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Søren Elmer Kristensen, CEO of Odense Robotics, explains:
“The collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instrumental in making this market visit a success. Their local presence allowed us to set up a strong, targeted programme that matched the needs of our companies. It also helped bring together local ecosystems for networking events with the Danish delegation. We simply wouldn’t have had the same opportunity without their support.”
The market visit was carried out as part of a strategic partnership project with Innovation Centre Denmark Seoul and the Danish Trade Council in Tokyo.
Would you like to learn more about similar market visits? Contact Project Manager, Julie Thygesen (jry@odenserobotics.dk) Rydahl, for further information.